Aparna Popat hails new badminton structure

Chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand and Aparna Popat (right) during the launch of Badminton Gurukul at the MCA-BKC Club on Dec 19, 2019. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Former India shuttler Aparna Popat has hailed the Badminton Association of India's (BAI) revamped domestic structure. She feels that BAI's recent announcement regarding the classification of the senior ranking tournaments into three levels will prove beneficial in the development of the sport in the country.

According to the new structure, Level 3 will have six series tournaments in the year, while Level 2 will have four Super Series tournaments. The premier Super Series tournament (twice a year) is bracketed as Level 1. Popat feels besides the much-needed exposure, the increase in prize money in domestic tournaments will be a bonus to the players. The prize money for Level 1 event is valued at Rs 25 lakh, Level 2 and 3 will have 15 and 10 lakh respectively, while 50 lakh is allocated for the senior nationals. The first set of these Level 3 tournaments will likely be held from May this year, while the Level 2 events could be conducted in July.

"The players need some motivation. Earlier, we didn't have an organised structure in place. Only the names we know [ranked players like PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, K Srikanth, B Sai Praneeth etc] who play at the international level got the exposure. The revamped structure is great, as it provides an opportunity to many current and upcoming players. Also, inciting players to play makes the domestic circuit more robust," Popat told www.mid-day.com.

The nine-time national badminton champion and two-time Olympian, is glad that more players will get a chance to play in main draws. As per the revised structure, in Level 3, 30 singles players and 15 in pair events as per BAI rankings will get direct entries in the main draw. And hosts will be entitled to give entry in the main draw to two players in singles and one in pair events. Meanwhile, in Level 2, the top 46 players in singles and 23 pairs in doubles as per BAI rankings (best of two tournaments in Level 3) will get direct entry into the main draw.

"According to this structure, the players will get opportunity, money, motivation and overall development. They will also get to stay in form. Earlier, draws were smaller and definitely not this big in number. Also, younger players will get a chance to play against more seasoned players and hence they will take the domestic circuit seriously," remarked Popat.